Safety binding for ski



Filed April 19, 1968 Nov. 4., 1969 P. UN ER 3,47 ,401

SAFETY BINDING FOR SKI 2 Sheets-Sheet. l

404 U/VWIP lnven/or Nov. 4, 1969 P. UNGER 3,476,401

SAFETY BINDING FOR SKI Filed April 19, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

2/ 2 6 23 I722 M \J 24 United States Patent 3,476,401 SAFETY BINDING FOR SKI Paul Unger, 113 Bruckwiesenstrasse, 8501 Alteuberg, near Nuremberg, Germany Filed Apr. 19, 1968, Ser. No. 722,674 Claims priority, application (ielrmany, Apr. 21, 1967,

Int. (:1. Arse 9/12, 9/24 US. Cl. 280-1135 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to safety binding for use on skis. More in particular, this invention is concerned with improvements in the safety bindings for ski disclosed in applicants US. Patent No. 3,378,271 and applicants US. application Ser. No. 662,721, filed Aug. 23, 1967.

In Patent No. 3,378,271 there is disclosed a ski binding for mounting on a ski which comprises a housing and a release means for retaining the ski boot and which in the event of excessive load releases against spring action to free the ski boot. The earlier invention covers the feature that in the housing which carries the sole retainer or boot catch, the pressure spring and the release means are mounted for pivotal movement as a unit on a base plate secured to the ski, that furthermore a pivotal connection is provided between the release means and the housing, and that this last mentioned connection is disposed at a distance from the connection of the unit with the base plate. In accordance with a preferred embodiment disclosed in that patent the unit, particularly the housing, is displaceably supported with respect to the base plate or the like at its end remote from the sole retainer.

In accordance with applicants further disclosure in this application No. 662,721, the housing which is displaceable longitudinally of the ski with respect to the base plate, and is supported thereon against raising or upward swinging of its rearward end from the base plate, and a latch arrangement is provided that sets the binding in the open position, which is manually releasable or by foot pressure. Furthermore, when using the device in accordance with that disclosure as an automatic heel release, the housing may have a forwardly extending projection which is known per se, which serves as a stepping or engagement surface for the heel of the ski boot. For further details regarding these prior disclosures attention is invited to applicants Patent No. 3,378,271 and application Ser. No. 662,721.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to construct a safety binding generally in accordance with the aforementioned "ice prior disclosures in such a manner that it releases also in the event of torsional falls, i.e., under excessive twisting load by means of the foot in a horizontal plane. This object is to be attained with simple structural means.

Accordingly, the invention proposes, first of all, that the housing together with the parts carried or retained thereby is pivotally connected with an intermediate support means and rockable upwardly relative thereto, as well as displaceable on the intermediate support means in the direction longitudinally of the ski, and that the intermediate support means is capable of swinging outwardly about a vertical axis against latch or spring action. This arrangement can be produced at very low cost. Thus, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the intermediate support means including any bores, guiding slots, etc. can be cast, pressed, or stamped in one part as a unit. A simple pivot bolt which is fastened to the base plate can serve as the pivot axis. The intermediate support means thus takes over the functions or actions which heretofore were performed by the base plate, in that it retains or carries the housing in accordance with the Patent No. 3,378,271 or the application No. 662,721. At the same time, however, the intermediate support means in combination with a latching or spring means known per se functions in addition as torsion protection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of an automatic heel release constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a partial section along line IIII in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the intermediate support means and of some of the component parts,

FIG. 4 is a section of a different embodiment similar to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lever components in accordance with FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The embodiments illustrate the invention as applied to an automatic heel release. It is noted, however, that it would also be possible to construct a front jaw or safety head in accordance with the invention. A base plate 2 or the like is threadedly secured to the ski 1 on which the vertical bolt 3 is securely mounted. The intermediate support device 4 rests upon the base plate 2 or on the annular flange 3 of the bolt 3. As seen particularly in FIG. 3, the housing 6 can encompass the intermediate support means or device 4 and the component parts as a shield from the top, and thus prevent the entrance of snow.

The normal operating and travelling position for which the intermediate support device and the housing 6, which is preferably stamped out of sheet metal, are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the ski, is secured by a spring 7 which is supported at one end on an abutment, and at the other end, for example, by way of a spring socket 9 against a flat surface 10 of the bolt 3. In the present embodiment, the abutment is defined by a set screw 8 of the intermediate support device. For this purpose bolt 3 can be provided with an annular latch groove 11 in which the flattened surface is located. Upon entrance of the latch spring 7 or of the spring socket 9 into the groove 11, inadvertent raising of the assembly from the bolt 3 is prevented. The assembling is effected either by sliding the arrangement over the bolt, if a yielding spring latch is provided; otherwise, the parts are first placed over the bolt 3 without the spring 7, and then the spring 7, together with the set screw 8 and the socket 9 are introduced from the outside into their position of operation. When a relatively high moment of torsion occurs, the intermediate support device and the housing are swung laterally, while compressing the spring 7, and thus free the ski boot. Thereupon, the housing together with the intermediate support means can be swung back manually into the illustrated position of operation. Between the bolt 3 and housing 6 and the components connected therewith, a sufficient amount of intermediate space is provided so that the housing and its parts do not push against the bolt during the unlatching.

In this embodiment the boot latch 12 is securely fastened to the housing 6. However, it could also be pivotally mounted as in the disclosure according to application No. 662,721. Regarding the function of the binding, reference may also be made to the embodiments of the patent or application mentioned above.

The linking and the support of the housing 6 to the intermediate support 4 may be such in accordance with the embodiment illustrated that two guide slots 13, 14 are provided in the intermediate supporting device. In the upper guiding slots 13 of the lateral cheeks 5 of the intermediate supporting device, one each joint support 16 is mounted for displacement relative to a further spring 15. The number and construction of the joint supports or the like is, of course, optional. The pivot pin 19 of the joint supports 16 which engages the slot 13 corresponds to the axle A1 in applicants earlier patent and application. The pivot axis A2 is defined by the pivot joint between the forward ends of the joint supports 16 and the housing 6. Thus, in the retaining position of the binding the spring presses the housing 6 and thus the boot catch 12 forwardly and simultaneously downwardly by way of an intermediate component 17, the pin 19 and the joint supports 16. The releasing takes place by rocking the joint supports 16. In order to provide for additional resiliency or bumper effect, the pivot point A1 is not fixed in this embodiment, but it can yield rearwardly by an amount corresponding to the length of slot 13. Furthermore, the rearward end of the housing 6 is displaceably guided by studs or pins 18 in the lower guiding slots 14 of the intermediate supporting device 4,

The intermediate supporting device 4 may be provided with an abutment 20 on which rest the forward ends of the joint supports 16 or their pivot joint axes A2. In this manner, the pressure of the ski boot is intercepted in the operative position in that the stepping plate does not press against the surface of the ski. This would, of course, prevent the outward swinging during a torsion fall. Intended release can be manually effected in a simple manner in that the binding is swung to the side about the bolt 3.

Thus, it can be seen that the housing 6 is connected with the intermediate supporting device 4 pivotally and for upward rocking movement, as well as for rearward sliding movement relative thereto, as it is in applicants patent and application with respect to the base plate. Simultaneously, the desired torsion release is provided with simple means. In addition, there is provided a double sliding or slot guidance of the housing with respect to the intermediate supporting device. By means of the upper slot guidance 13 in combination with the pivot supports 16 of the general form of levers, a dead point arrangement is created in the form of a toggle or knee lever joint which, during release, yields rearwardly against the force of spring 15. In this manner, it is accomplished that the joint axle A2 during release can be displaced vertically upwardly, and thus rapidly free the ski boot. With a fixed joint or connection of the upper joint pins 19 (A1) of the joint supports 16, i.e. one that cannot be displaced rearwardly, the axle A2 during release would not only be displaced upwardly, but at the same time also to a disadvantage forwardly because it has to follow an are about the joint axle A1. This embodiment of the invention also permits of constructing the joint supports which here constitute the release means very simply in the form of unitary levers. The dead point is overcome as soon as point A2 arrives above the longitudinal axis of spring 15.

In the event of a forward fall the lower slot guide 14 permits a suitable evading movement of the housing rearwardly so that, in spite of sufficient release of the ski boot, it may remain essentially in its horizontal position.

In FIG. 4, which generally shows the same automatic heel release as FIG. 1, the lever 21 has been added which can be actuated with the point or ferrule of the ski pole. Lever 21 is pivotally journalled in the intermediate supporting device 4 by means of the pivot shaft pin 22. It is provided at its other lever arm with a slot 23 which encompasses the pivot pin 19 of the member 16. The position of the parts indicated in FIG. 4 corresponds to the travelling position in which the sole or boot catch 12 rests against the heel of the ski boot. For the purpose of intentional release, the end of lever 21 which projects from the slot 24 must be pressed downwardly, whereby the part 17 is pressed against the effect of spring 15 by way of slot 23 and the shaft 19. In this manner the axle A2, together with housing 6 and boot catch 12, is suitably moved upwardly to cause release. The aperture 23 is in the form of a slot because the shaft 19 does not move along an are about point 22, but it effects a straight line movement.

As soon as axis A2 reaches the position of dead center, it is pressed into its upper release position by the spring 15. The latching or return to operative position is simply effected by placing the heel upon the projecting surface and stepping down on same. It is, of course, apparent that the release can also be effected by means of a differently formed lever, for example, a hand lever.

Having now described my invention with reference to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, I do not wish to be limited thereto, but what I desire to protect by letters patent of the United States is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Safety binding for ski comprising a housing, a boot catch extending from said housing, a vertical pivot bolt adapted to be rigidly mounted on the ski, an intermediate supporting device mounted on said vertical pivot bolt and supporting said housing, said supporting device presenting a lower slot and an upper slot, first spring means in said intermediate supporting device biasing said device and said housing with said boot catch into latching position toward said vertical pivot bolt, a second spring means disposed in and having one end biased against one end of said housing, a joint support defining a pivot joint at one end with said housing and having at its other end a slidable pivot connection with said upper slot in said intermediate supporting device, the other end of said second spring means biasing said slidable pivot connection against one end of said upper slot, and said housing having a stud extending into said lower slot to be slidably guided therein.

2. Safety binding in accordance with claim 1, comprising a base plate retaining said bolt and said intermediate supporting device being pivotally movable about said bolt against the bias of said first spring means.

3. Safety binding in accordance with claim 1, where said intermediate supporting device is disposed above said base plate and presents upwardly extending lateral cheeks for pivotally supporting said housing.

4. Safety binding in accordance with claim 3, where said bolt presents a flattened surface for engagement by said first spring.

5. Safety binding in accordance with claim 4, where said bolt defines an annular groove, a spring socket engages the end of said first spring means and is biased into said groove and latches said intermediate supporting device and said housing to said bolt.

6. Safety binding in accordance with claim I, where said intermediate supporting device presents an abutment for engagement by said one end of said joint support.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1965 Minisini 2801I.35 7/1965 Gembruch 280-1135 LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner J. A. PEKAR, Assistant Examiner 

